Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Chapter 2 The Skeletal System 45
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Chapter 2 The Skeletal System 45
Disease/Condition Defi nition
osteopenia
AHS-tee-oh-PEE-nee-uh
oste/o = bone
-penia = defi ciency
Bone defi ciency; in a young person,
less-than-average bone density.
osteoporosis
AHS-tee-oh-puh-ROH-sis
oste/o = bone
-porosis = abnormal condition of
small holes
Condition of small holes in the
bones; noticeable loss of bone
density (Figure 2.23).
osteosarcoma
AHS-tee-oh-sar-KOH-muh
oste/o = bone
sarc/o = fl esh; connective tissue
-oma = tumor; mass
Malignant tumor that arises from
connective tissue and affects the
bone.
Paget’s disease
PAJ-ets
Excessive breakdown of bone and
abnormal, enlarged bone formation;
osteitis deformans (AHS-tee-IGH-tis
duh-FOR-menz).
periostitis
PEER-ee-ahs-TIGH-tis
peri- = around; surrounding
oste/o = bone
-itis = infl ammation
Infl ammation of the periosteum,
the covering that surrounds the
bone.
sequestrum
suh-KWES-trum
Bone tissue death that occurs when
the bone has become sequestered,
or separated, from the healthy
tissue around it, due to lack of blood
supply.
spina bifi da
SPIGH-nuh BIF-ih-duh
Split spine; congenital defect
in which part of the membrane
covering the spinal cord protrudes
through a gap in the spine
(Figure 2.24).
spinal curvatures Abnormal curvatures of the spine.
kyphosis
kigh-FOH-sis
kyph/o = humpback
-osis = abnormal condition
Abnormal, outward curvature
of the thoracic spine; humpback;
called Dowager’s hump in older
women (Figure 2.25).
lordosis
lor-DOH-sis
lord/o = curve; swayback
-osis = abnormal condition
Abnormal, forward curvature
of the lumbar spine; swayback
(Figure 2.26).
scoliosis
SKOH-lee-OH-sis
scoli/o = crooked; bent
-osis = abnormal condition
Abnormal, lateral curvature of the
spine (Figure 2.27).
Figure 2.23 Osteoporosis.
Figure 2.24 Spina bifi da is
a congenital defect in which
nerves protrude from the spine.